Spokane Regional Clear Air Agency Board Meeting Minutes

The minutes from the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency board meeting of June 3, 2010 summarize the findings of the study it commissioned to investigate the potential health impacts of the Spokane BNSF railyard on the surrounding population.

Excerpt from minutes:

Findings of ARB assessment applied to Spokane:

Approximately 150 residences (500-600 people) reside within 900 feet to the north of BNSF. This population resides with the 50 to 100 in a million risk zone.

Approximately 1,050 residences (3,150 people) reside with the one-mile radius which approximates the 25 in a million risk zone.

This leaves 900 residences (approximately 2,600 people) that reside within the 25 to 50 in a million risk zone.

Approximately 7,500 residences (22,000 people) reside within a two-mile radius. The two-mile radius approximates the 10 in a million risk isopleths. This leaves 6,450 residences (18,700 people) that reside within the 10 to 25 in a million risk zone.

On September 29, 2009, the Director requested in a letter that the DOH perform a lung cancer cluster assessment for the study area and compare it to the DOH’s expected occurrences. Findings of DOH Lung Cancer Studies (1992-2003 and 1992-2006):

Results show that there were 260 cases of lung cancer in the study area in the 11 year period, averaging 24 cases per year. This area falls mostly within a two-mile radius around BNSF and corresponds quite well with the areas of the isopleths surrounding the BNSF rail yard.

Based on the results of the above two studies, Spokane Clean Air was concerned for the health of the public residing in the area within a two-mile radius of the Spokane BNSF rail yard.

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